Peter is a licensed clinical social worker with a passion for helping older adults access care, education, resources and community supports. In his role as Program Manager for Geriatrics, Peter supports a variety of efforts focused on enhancing and improving the care of older adults throughout MaineHealth’s service area. Prior to joining MaineHealth, Peter served as the Program Director for the Alzheimer’s Association, as well as various roles in long-term care all with a focus on improving the care for people living with dementia and their caregivers since 2006. He holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Maine Farmington and an MSW from the University of Southern Maine. Peter has learned a lot from the older adults he has gotten to know and when he is not working he makes sure to take time to enjoy his family, the outdoors, and all that the state of Maine has to offer.

Dr. Barkin is associate medical director at Goold Health Systems and has medical oversight of Pharmacy Benefit Clinical Programs, Community Assessment Programs, Radiology Benefit Management, and Medical Prior Authorizations in consultation with both State Medicaid Agencies and with other members of Goold’s clinical team. Dr. Barkin also maintains a part-time clinical practice specializing in Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry. Prior to joining GHS he focused on clinical and forensic psychiatry, healthcare policy and analysis, as well as consultation and teaching. He is an expert on clinical trial design, methodology, and critical efficacy, and econometric analysis.

Dr. Barkin is Board Certified in both general and geriatric psychiatry. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and also serves as Chairman of the Maine Psychiatric Workgroup. He recently completed the Hanley Health Leadership Fellow program and is the President of the Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians.

He is also a member of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, American Psychiatric Association, Maine Association of Psychiatric physicians, and serves on the Boards of the Maine Medical Association, the Maine Board of Bar Examiners, an appointment made by both the Governor and the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, and Tri County Mental Health Services.

Dr. Barkin received his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College and his Medical Degree from the Yale University School of Medicine.

Frank has been active in social justice change efforts in Maine for several decades (longevity matters!), including legislative advocacy for sexual and gender minorities. This activism informed his teaching of social welfare policy and practice courses when he taught in both the USM Social Work program 1993-2003 and the UNE School of Social Work MSW program from 2104-2021. He developed and taught courses on social work practice with LGBTQIA individuals as well as gerontological social work practice. Frank retired from teaching in 2021. His clinical social work practice focused on human sexuality issues, especially sexual orientation, and gender identity. Frank continues to provide consultation part-time.

Frank is former chairperson of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Maine Chapter’s Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Advocacy. He served on the Council of Social Work Education’s Council on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of SAGE Maine, and he served on the Maine legislature’s Joint Standing Judiciary Committee’s Family Law Advisory Commission (FLAC) from 2012-2022. Frank also served on the boards of the Kids First Center, the ACLU of Maine, and Maine TRANSNET.  He was a founding member of the Portland Area LGBT Parents Group. Frank lives in Portland with his husband Marvin Ellison and is the proud father of a son, Sam and his wife, Keisha, and is now a grandpa to two wonderful granddaughters Maya and Zoe.

Sara is the Director of Assisted Living at Avesta Housing, which she joined in 2009 as a Senior Resident Service Coordinator. Sara obtained her Residential Care Administrators License in 2014 and was promoted to her current position. As Director, she serves as the Administrator of Inn at Village Square, Avesta’s 37-bed assisted living facility in Gorham. Sara oversees a staff of 31 people across eight departments, and maintains the regulatory and licensing requirements as well as resident health and safety. Prior to joining Avesta, Sara was supervisor of a Residential Care Facility for Sweetser Children’s Services. In this role Sara worked with children and families with a variety of mental and behavioral health needs. She studied Psychology at the University of Southern Maine and has worked in social service roles for nearly 20 years.

Marilyn is a Professor and the Director for Geriatrics Education and Research at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM), and Director of U-ExCEL (UNE~Exercise and Conditioning for Easier Living) Fitness/Wellness Program for older adults. Marilyn designed and implemented the Learning by Living Nursing Home Research Project and 48-Hour Hospice Home Immersion Project — two UNECOM signature programs – which “admit” medical students into nursing homes to live the life of an elder resident for two weeks or into the Gosnell Memorial Hospice Home for 48 hours to work with patients, families, and staff. She serves on several national and state executive boards for organizations focused on aging and has been recognized for her teaching and mentorship in geriatrics and gerontology. She is a founding Board member of MCOA and the recipient of MCOA’s 2024 Lasting Legacy Award in recognition of her contributions toward bringing “lasting and positive change to the lives of older Mainers.”

In 2023, Bill retired as the owner of the Home Instead in Gorham, which serves Cumberland County. He opened the business in November of 2000, marking a dramatic career change. Before moving to Maine in 2000, Bill made his living and was widely known throughout the Midwest as an orchestral and ballet conductor, cellist, radio personality, and educator. Bill began his professional musical life as Assistant Principal Cellist of the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared as guest conductor with many symphonies across the country. A diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis prompted Bill to explore career options outside the realm of music. When he learned of the opportunity to open a Home Instead franchise, he enthusiastically embraced it, largely because of his family’s experience dealing with the challenges of caring for his stepmother, who had died from Alzheimer’s disease. Bill has been an active member with the Maine Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, including serving as Chair of the Board of Directors. Bill also serves on MCOA’s Power in Aging Committee and is a Leadership Exchange on Ageism facilitator.

Donna is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Waldo Community Action Partners, which provides services and supports to our low-income community members including medical and public transportation, early childhood eduction, home repair and weatherization, heating assistance, and programs that address food insecurity. She has been practicing social work for more than 30 years, much of that time in the behavioral healthcare field. Donna has also worked for three large community mental health centers in Maine developing, managing, and running rental subsidy programs, homeless transitional housing, independent housing, residential treatment services, and other community services.

In addition to serving as President of MCOA’s Board of Directors, Donna is a board member at the Maine Continuum of Care, the State Homeless Council, chairs the Maine Council on Aging, and is a board member for the Belfast Rotary and the MaineHealth Waldo and Penbay Hospital. She is recent past President of the Maine Community Action Partnership and remains on their board. Donna earned her undergraduate BS from the Univesity of Maine, with a major in Biology. She received her MSW from the University of New England in Biddeford. Donna resides in Belfast with her family and enjoys coaching high school swimming. 

Catharine is Vice President, Talent Acquisition & Workforce Development at Northern Light Health, an integrated healthcare system in Maine. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP), and a Senior Certified Professional of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-SCP). Her doctoral research focused on identifying factors influencing gerontological social workers’ initial interest and career choice in working with older populations and she was a project coordinator for a grant-funded study of Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities that resulted in several publications including a co-authored article in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work entitled, History, Accomplishments, Issues and Prospects of Supportive Service Programs in Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities in New York State: Lessons learned. Catharine is a Certified Fellow, Supervisor and Trainer of the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City in Rational Emotive/Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a graduate of the Hanley Leadership Development program, and a Past President of the Human Resources Association of Southern Maine (HRASM). She currently serves as a board member for the Maine Association of Recovery Residences (MARR) and as a member of the Maine State Workforce Board. Catharine received a Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work from New York University, an MSW in Clinical Social Work from the University of Denver, and a BA in Sociology from the University of Virginia.

Claudette acts as the Executive Director of In Her Presence. She has developed an effective network of resources that provides needed support for the immigrant, asylee, and refugee communities on a grassroots level. She is a leader in the Portland immigrant community, encourages individuals and communities to help themselves, but has never lost sight of the importance of compassion, gratitude, and modesty, which allows others to feel comfortable coming to her for assistance. A native of Burundi, Claudette has a bachelor’s degree in administration/management from the University of Burundi and was a National Sales Manager for a beverage brewery whose majority stockholder was Heineken. Claudette has served on the boards of different community organizations: Hope Acts, First Parish Unitarian Universalist (FPUU), Youth Family Outreach (YFO), Vice President of Burundi Community Association of Maine (B CAM), Furniture Friends (FF), Welcoming Immigrants Network (WIN) and Financial Stability Expert Panel with United Way.

Mary Jane is the Chief Executive Officer at North Country Associates – one of the largest providers of long-term care services in the state of Maine. She has worked at North Country for more than 30 years. Mary Jane is a Multi-Level Administrator, former board member and past chair for the Maine Nursing Administrator’s Licensing Board, a member of the Maine Elder Abuse Coucil, and a past chair and member of the Board of Directors for the Maine Healthcare Association. Her knowledge of care and services across the continuum of care assists legislators to fully understand the impact their decisions make on the elders and caregivers of Maine.

Catherine serves as the Vice President of Special Projects for Spurwink Services. Her professional work has been focused on developing models that align with the principles of healthcare reform and which yield exceptional outcomes. She is passionate about ensuring access for those in need, bending the cost curve to achieve fiscal sustainability, and reducing the stigma associated with behavioral health. Catherine is proud to serve at an agency noted for its trauma-informed, recovery-based approach to services.

Catherine is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a MS in Counselor Education, is a Nationally Certified Counselor, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. She has completed the certificate program in Primary Care Behavioral Health from University of MA and is a graduate of the Hanley Leadership Development program for healthcare leaders in Maine. In addition to serving on MCOA’s board of directors, Catherine currently serves as a board member for the Portland Recovery Community Center (PRCC), the Hanley Center for Health Leadership, and is a corporator for Bangor Savings Bank. She is also the mother of an adult son who died from an accidental overdose and has made it her personal and professional goal to increase awareness, decrease stigma, and to save lives.

Betsy is the President & CEO of SeniorsPlus — the Area Agency on Aging for Western Maine. In addition to her role as Treasurer on the MCOA board of directors, she is a commissioner on the Maine Commission for Community Service. Prior to joining SeniorsPlus in May 2009, Betsy worked for the People’s Regional Opportunity Program (PROP), the Community Action Agency for Cumberland County. During her 20 years at PROP as a senior manager, Betsy was responsible for the oversight of all programming and was also responsible for the development of five affordable housing projects. Betsy holds a BSW from the University of Southern Maine and an MSW from the University of Connecticut.

Angela is the President/CEO of the Maine Health Care Association. Prior to this role, she held similar positions with the Maine Dental Association and the Maine Osteopathic Association. Angela has more than 20 years of non-profit management experience with a focus on health care, reimbursement policy, public health, and advocacy. She graduated from the University of Maine with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication, with concentrations in health communication and public relations. Angela is a graduate of the Hanley Health Leadership Development program as well as a past president of the American Osteopathic Society of Executive Directors and the Maine Public Health Association. In 2017, she received national recognition from the American Academy of Osteopathy with an Academy Award, the highest honor bestowed upon non-physicians.  In addition to serving on MCOA’s Board of Directors, Angela is a board member of the HLD Alumni Council and a volunteer for the United Way of Kennebec County. Angela resides in Sidney, ME with her husband and daughter and she enjoys running, hiking, and kayaking in her spare time. 

Jess Maurer is the Executive Director of the Maine Council on Aging, a multidisciplinary network of over 140 businesses working to ensure we can all live healthy, engaged, and secure lives as we age. She leads data-informed policy change efforts on issues related to ageism, equity, poverty, housing, transportation, workforce, and care. A core focus of her work is on worldwide demographic shifts and longevity trends, and how our cultural norms about work, health, and the built environment haven’t kept pace with these trends. With the goal of ending ageism in Maine by 2032, Jess co-designed the Leadership Exchange on Ageism, an innovative program that has inspired over 350 leaders to take meaningful action to end ageism. This program is now being replicated in other states and is launching nationally this year. Throughout her work, she maintains focus on underserved and marginalized older people to ensure the policies we adopt work for everyone. A licensed Maine attorney, Jess worked for 17 years in the Maine Office of the Attorney General.